Recommended armor sets for when using the great sword in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. Included are the best armor pieces to use as you progress from early to late game.

Great Sword Armor Sets

The great sword benefits from any skills that increase attack power and affinity to deal massive damage with its true charged slash. Utility skills such as focus, quick sheathe, and earplugs are also helpful, though their usefulness varies depending on your playstyle.

Critical hit guaranteed for draw attacks. A core skill for the hit-and-run great sword playstyle.

Non-elemental Boost

Greatly increases attack power of non-elemental weapons.

Focus

Shortens the charge time of charged attacks. One of the most important utility skills for the true charged slash great sword playstyle.

Earplugs

Prevents monster roars from interrupting you during charging. It is possible to negate the effect of roars by performing a tackle at the right moment, though it takes some practice.

Quick Sheathe

Increases sheathing speed. Makes it easier to get out of harm’s way after attacking.

Rarity 3

Equipment

Skill

Decorations

Head

Jagras Helm

Speed Eating (Level 1)

–

Chest

Bone Mail

Attack Boost (Level 1)

–

Arms

Kadachi Vambraces

Evade Extender (Level 1)

–

Waist

Hunter Coil

Scenthound

–

Legs

Kulu Greaves

Critical Eye (Level 1)

–

Activated Skills

Skills

Attack Boost (Level 1)

Critical Eye (Level 1)

Speed Eating (Level 1)

Evade Extender (Level 1)

Scenthound

Basic equipment set. Unlike most starting armor sets, it focuses more on offense rather than survivability. A good setup to get a feel for the great sword’s playstyle of making each strike count. Scenthound offers good utility to easily track target monsters.

Rarity 5

Equipment

Skill

Decorations

Head

Diablos Helm

Critical Draw (Level 1)

–

Chest

Rathalos Mail

Weakness Exploit (Level 1)

–

Arms

Death Stench Grip

Focus (Level 1)

–

Waist

Odogaron Coil

Critical Eye (Level 1)

–

Legs

Hornetaur Greaves

Handicraft (Level 1)

–

Activated Skills

Skills

Critical Draw (Level 1)

Weakness Exploit (Level 1)

Focus (Level 1)

Critical Eye (Level 1)

Handicraft

Armor set that accommodates a hit-and-run playstyle for the great sword with critical draw. Damage potential is increased with critical eye, weakness exploit, and handicraft. Focus reduces the charge time of the weapon, letting you land true charge slash more reliably as well.

Rarity 7

Equipment

Skill

Decorations

Head

Rathalos Helm β

Attack Boost (Level 2)

Attack Boost (1)

Chest

Rathalos Mail β

Weakness Exploit (Level 2)

Health Jewel (1)

Arms

Rathalos Vambraces α

Fire Resistance (Level 2), Attack Boost (Level 1)

Health Jewel (1)

Waist

Odogaron Coil α

Critical Eye (Level 2), Speed Sharpening

Legs

Rathalos Greaves α

Jump Master, Weakness Exploit (Level 1)

–

Charm

Attack Charm I

Attack Boost (Level 1)

–

Activated Skills

Skills

Attack Boost (Level 5)

Weakness Exploit (Level 3)

Health Boost (Level 3)

Critical Eye (Level 2)

Fire Resistance (Level 2)

Jump Master

Rathalos Power (Set Bonus)

Speed Sharpening (Level 1)

Yet another attack-focused armor set. Its combination of skills is extremely useful even when pitted against Nergigante during the main story. Boasts good affinity to trigger critical hits. The Rathalos power set bonus increases elemental damage dealt, allowing you to further take advantage of a monster’s elemental weakness.

Rarity 8

Equipment

Skill

Decorations

Head

Nergigante Helm α

Maximum Might (Level 2), Attack Boost (Level 1)

Health Jewel (1)

Chest

Damascus Mail β

Focus (Level 2)

Sheathing Jewel (1), Sheathing Jewel (1), Health Jewel (1)

Arms

Kaiser Vambraces α

Weakness Exploit (Level 2)

Health Jewel (1)

Waist

Nergigante Coil α

Attack Boost (Level 2), Stamina Surge (Level 1)

Legs

Nergigante Greaves α

Maximum Might (Level 1)

Attack Jewel (1)

Charm

Critical Charm

Critical Boost (Level 1)

–

Activated Skills

Skills

Attack Boost (Level 4)

Maximum Might (Level 3)

Quick Sheath (Level 2)

Health Boost (Level 3)

Focus (Level 2)

Weakness Exploit (Level 2)

Stamina Surge (Level 1)

Critical Boost (Level 1)

Agitator (Level 1)

Nergigante Hunger (Set Bonus)

Armor set consisting of pieces made from materials from elder dragons. Wearing three Nergigante armor pieces activates the set bonus, allowing you to absorb health by attacking monsters. Grants mostly attack-focused skills while having impressive utility with focus, quick sheath, and stamina surge.

Equipment

Skill

Decorations

Head

Dragonking Eyepatch α

Weakness Exploit (Level 2)

Exploiter Jewel (1)

Chest

Damascus Mail β

Focus (Level 2)

Sheathing Jewel (1), Sheathing Jewel (1), Sheathing Jewel (1)

Arms

Diablos Nero Vambraces β

Focus (Level 1)

Health Jewel (1), Attack Jewel (1)

Waist

Bazel Coil β

Earplugs (Level 2)

Legs

Kushala Crus β

Evade Extender (Level 2)

Health Jewel (1)

Charm

Earplug Charm

Eaplugs (Level 3)

–

Activated Skills

Skills

Earplugs (Level 5)

Focus (Level 3)

Weakness Exploit (Level 3)

Evade Extender (Level 3)

Quick Sheath (Level 3)

Health Boost (Level 3)

Attack Boost (Level 1)

Armor set that focuses on consistently executing true charged slash. Earplugs allow you to charge your weapon without being interrupted by monster roars. Maxing out focus significantly cuts charge times, allowing you to land powerful blows at the last second.

End Game

Equipment

Skill

Decorations

Weapon

Wyvern Ignition “Impact”

Attack Jewel (1), Attack Jewel (1)

Head

Dragonking Eyepatch α

Weakness Exploit (Level 2)

Exploiter Jewel (2)

Chest

Drachen Mail α

Critical Eye (Level 2), Critical Boost (Level 1)

Exploiter Jewel (2)

Arms

Drachen Vambraces α

Critical Eye (Level 2), Attack Boost (Level 2)

Critical Boost Jewel (2), Critical Boost Jewel (2)

Waist

Drachen Coil α

Critical Eye (Level 2), Power Prolonger (Level 1)

Elementless Jewel (1)

Legs

Nergigante Greaves γ

Attack Boost (Level 3)

Focus Jewel (2), Critical Eye Jewel (1)

Charm

Focus Charm II

Focus (Level 2)

–

Activated Skills

Skills

Critical Eye (Level 7)

Attack Boost (Level 6)

Focus (Level 3)

Weakness Exploit (Level 3)

Critical Boost (Level 3)

Power Prolonger (Level 1)

Non-elemental Boost

Soul of the Dragoon (Set Bonus)

Armor set consisting of mostly Drachen armor pieces. Boasts high affinity and attack power to deal staggering damage with true charged slash. Non-elemental boost is also essential for wielding Wyvern Ignition “Impact” since it does not have any element unless awakened.